Posted By : Chris Taylor,
12-Nov-2006, 12:23pm
Unless you have actually managed to get a sump plug out with one of these, I'd try the other solutions first. The problem with these stud
extractors is that they are relatively brittle (so can snap off, leaving you as bad as you were at first but arguably no worse off!), and you
have only a small square at the end to apply torque by (MUCH less than with a Stilson wrench). Oh, and they cost quite a bit, at least for good
quality ones!
Added to which, you might have difficulty getting the drill in place to drill the hole down the centre, and being able to fit the extractor
down the middle without the "drive" end fouling the chassis rail.
There was some discussion recently about good things to sell in the Club Shop. I vote for a GOOD tool with a TAPERED square drive to fit over
sump, gearbox and (where fitted) diff drain plugs. Not quite sure what it would look like, could be like a modified combination spanner, or
probably better a special sort of socket so you can get all the drive bits out of your socket set to apply the necessary urge to the plug.
DON'T, whatever you do, refit that plug once you've got it out, unless you very securely weld a big nut to it, or else you (or some other poor
sod in the future) will have the same problem you have now!